Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will understand what causes the different seasons we experience throughout the year.

Materials and Prep

Materials needed: a globe or ball, a flashlight or lamp, paper, and crayons.

Before the lesson, make sure to find a room with good lighting and have the materials ready.

Activities

• Activity 1: Hold the globe or ball in one hand and the flashlight in the other. Move the flashlight around the globe to see how the light shines differently on the globe, just like the sun shines on Earth at different angles during the year.

• Activity 2: Draw four circles on the paper to represent each season. Use different colors to show how the Earth is tilted towards or away from the sun during each season.

• Activity 3: Stand in a sunny spot and feel the warmth of the sun on your face. Imagine how this warmth changes as the Earth moves around the sun during the year.

Talking Points

• "The Earth is like a big ball that moves around the sun. Sometimes it leans towards the sun, and sometimes it leans away."

• "When the Earth leans towards the sun, it's summer. That's why it's warm and we can play outside a lot."

• "When the Earth leans away from the sun, it's winter. That's why it gets cold and we wear warm clothes."

• "In spring and autumn, the Earth is not leaning towards or away from the sun very much. That's why the weather is not too hot or too cold."